Speeches

The Panama papers revealed the sordid detail of the policies of this government. John Key’s personal lawyer lobbied for nothing to be done, even though the Greens and IRD had warned of the damage to our international reputation. NZ was advertised around the world as a good place to park your billions without any tax authorities knowing. We became part of the massive problem of tax havens, allowing the wealthy to get away with paying little tax while wage and salary earners shoulder most of the load.

We give thanks to our tupuna, who had the vision and foresight to sign He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, our founding documents which continue to serve as the basis for peace and justice in Aotearoa.

We give thanks to ngā hapū o Ngāpuhi for your manaakitanga to us every year that we return here to honour our Te Tiriti relationships, and for always reminding us that you never ceded your sovereignty.

I must say I am very pleased to see the Hon Nikki Kaye back in the Chamber, with all of the energy that she has had before the time she had away to deal with some very serious health challenges. So, welcome back.

METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green): The Green Party is very pleased to support this bill to select committee. There is a great deal about it that we think is wise, most particularly the partnership relationship with Ngāti Paoa and their involvement in housing development as an iwi. We think this is the right kind of approach or at least the right kind of relationship to be taking with iwi around the country, as in Auckland, where iwi are directly involved in housing.

METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green): The Green Party will oppose this legislation. There are some positive aspects to the bill that we do support, such as extending the youth justice age, albeit with the restrictions that are in it, and we would like to see those restrictions moved; and extending the age of care, assuming that the care is safe. We can understand the provisions for that. We support early intervention for families and whānau, where children are unsafe and need to be protected. We do not support the permanent removal of children from their families.

I am very pleased to stand on behalf of the Green Party and support the final reading of this legislation. I feel sad that we were not able to do it at the time when everybody had come down from Palmy for the second and what was supposed to be the third reading, but we are here now and that is really good.